(This message series is inspired and excerpted from He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobsen.)
The Relationship God Has Always Wanted with Me –
Welcome Home
“I’VE SEEN THAT LOOK at least a dozen times. Should I trust or should I not? I know well the battle that rages not fifteen yards from me as the latest stray puppy tries to decide whether I’m safe or not. The torment is unbearable. She takes a few halting steps forward, then thinks better and turns her head away as if to break a spell about to overcome her. I would love to rush in, scoop her off her feet, and convince her how safe I am for her, but if I so much as lean forward, she scurries even farther into the darkness. Right now, the dog across from me has no idea what awaits her if she can overcome her fear.” (p. 33)
As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” (Luke 8:23-25 NLT)
The picture of coaxing a stray puppy to safety is a great illustration of coming into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It goes against everything about the old nature.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
What were some of the fears in your hurt, abandoned life that kept you, or keep you, from trusting in the waiting arms of the Father? Take a moment to pray for some “stray puppies” (take care not to gossip).
“The latest puppy is one of those. I hold out my hand, offering her food. I know she hasn’t eaten in a while because I can count every rib right through her fur. I coax lovingly, speaking in soft tones, trying to caress her with my words. This won’t be easy. I will not force her into my home and allow her fears to be a risk to my children and my dogs. If she comes, she’ll have to come willingly. The game will go on for a while, and right now it could go either way. Will I take care of her and help her, or will I be like all the others who have hurt or abandoned her? She doesn’t want any more pain, preferring to leave now if my invitation will only add more grief. I know exactly how she feels. Every time I play this game, I can’t help but think how much this mirrors God’s entreaty to me, and the difficult time I have learning to trust him. The choice to trust is never easy— not for stray dogs, nor for stray sons and daughters.” (p. 34)
“Could the invitation be any clearer? Jesus told his followers about a house, with a Father who waits for them to come and take their place in his home. Does this sound familiar? (p. 35)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3 ESV)
In what ways, like the disciples, are you still learning to trust Jesus?
“We so easily miss the point of his words when we mistakenly relegate them to the distant future involving a second coming and mansions in heaven. It is more likely that Jesus was still talking about his first going-away— his death on a cross— and his first coming-back— the Resurrection. These events would unfold in the next few days, and Jesus wanted his followers to understand just how important they were.
The cross stands as the pivotal event in opening the door for us to dwell in the Father’s love. The apostle Paul told us that when we really understand what happened there between a Father and a Son, we will know for certain and forever just how deep their love
is for us.
…He was going to open a door and return after the Resurrection to show them how to live in his Father’s house— the place in the Father’s heart he’s prepared for each one of them.” (p. 35)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7 ESV)
“I know that is far easier to talk about than it is to do. We’ve learned all our lives that trusting other people will often leave us frustrated and disappointed. Even the people who love us the most have probably failed us at some point. The lesson our flesh teaches us from a very young age is to take care of ourselves because no one else will.
It may take a while, but God can help us define his fatherhood based not on the failed record of broken humanity, but on what it really is to be loved by the most awesome Father in the universe. So even if the word “father” doesn’t convey the most tender image to you, please don’t write yourself out of God’s house. Learning to trust him is the most difficult thing any of us will ever learn to do. If I can understand that for a stray puppy cowering in my front yard, how much more does the Father of heaven and Earth understand our wounds and our insecurities?
With incredible patience and love, he coaxes us out of our fears to embrace him. He waits for that moment when suddenly we know we are safer in him than in any other place we could be. You may be timid at first, but turn toward him and abandon yourself to trust him in the smallest way you can.
He understands how afraid you are that you’ll be disappointed once again. But he’s still there, patiently extending his hand to you. He will try to get closer, until you cower away in fear. Then he will back off so as not to add to your pain, hoping his gentleness will one day win you over.” (p. 37)
What are some the ways God’s gentleness has won you over?
“Trust: it is so easy to talk about but so hard to put into practice. Nothing is more theologically certain than that God is faithful and trustworthy. But learning how to live in that trust through the twists and turns of our lives is the most difficult challenge we face.” (p. 37)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:7-8 ESV)
“This is the journey of a lifetime— to learn to trust him more and more every day for the rest of our lives. The more we trust him, the more of his life we can experience. But don’t try to do this on your own. You don’t have it in you. He can take you by the hand and teach you just how much you are loved so that you no longer have to pursue your own way and protect yourself in ways that seem only to backfire, hurting you and others around you.” (p. 38) Pray for one another in truth and love.
For Your Personal Journey
“What reservations do you have about entrusting yourself completely to God? Realize that the only way to grow in trust is to grow in the knowledge of his love. Ask him every day to reveal the depth of his love to you and in doing so to teach you how to trust him more.” (p. 40)
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